Reading apparatus for invalids



Aug. 13, 1940. L. M. RING READING APPARATUS FOR INVALIDS Filed July 21, 1959 I i l l I I l l I I l b I I'L I l l l l l l l l l l ml l l l I J I lizue/zfan gp] fiiionzey Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES amps READING APPARATUS FOR INVAIJDS,

Laurence M. Ring, Brookline, Mass. I

Application July 21, 1939, Serial No. 285,728

1 Claim.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed relates to a device for enabling persons, especially invalids, to observe objects while reclining.

A person who is ill or feeble often desires to read, but reading is not practicable in instances where the patient cannot or should not raise his head or sit up or where the patient cannot hold the hook or paper to be read in the line of vision. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to enable a person subject to the aforesaid disabilities to view an object or read without strain or exertion. It is also an object 'to enable a person to read while wholly unencumbered and accessible to the attendant.

My invention enables a patient not only to read, but to Write and to play games as well, and in cases where the patient must remain in bed for a long period unable to move the head or torso, the patient may do simple tasks such as sewing, knitting, carving and the like. In this manner my invention aids in occupational therapy. The invention, with minor mechanical changes, may also be adapted to use in connection with the iron lung, In connection with these many uses, it should be noted that my invention does more than provide the ability to see, and that the novel structure herein disclosed enables the patient to act as well as observe.

While my invention includes the use of mirrors which reflect the light from the book or other object tothe eye of the reader, the use of mirrors in a position to reflect light as aforesaid is not the only means utilized to accomplish fully the purposes of my invention. The helplessness of the patient, the necessity of avoiding strain, and the desirability of immediate and constant access to the patient, the requirements and limitations of the hospital sick room, are all factors which are to be considered in developing a useful reading device.

I have successfully met these requirements, and have invented a practicable reading device suitable for use with all patients able to read. The device of my invention is never in contact with the head of the patient, yet the patient can readily .control the pages of his book and easily adjust the elevation of the mirrors. By the use of lenses and the proper positioning of lights, the patient can read easily and comfortably with no strain on the eyes. The use of the device provides no obstacle whatever to the nurse or attendant who may have to give prompt assistance and the whole structure may be placed in position, properly adjusted and removed from the patient without effort, loss of time,inconvenience or disturbing the patient.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following descriptionin conjunction withthe'accompanying'drawing, It is to be. 5 understood that the invention is not limited to the details of'constructionand arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawing, since the-invention as defined by'the claim hereinafter appended may be otherwise embodiedwithout departure from the spiritand scope thereof. u

It is also to beunderstoodrthatthe terms here used are for the purpose of. description and not of limitation, and it is not'iintended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the require- .ments of the prior art.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a structure embodying my invention shown placed in position for use; 20

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in side elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in side elevation.

The structure herein described has two main sections, the reading hood and the supporting stand. The hood and its contents are entirely supported by said stand, in order that the structure may be moved as a unit and in order that the bed and patient shall be wholly free and unencumbered. The supporting structure as shown is formed of a one-piece frame I of metal tubing bent at right angles to provide vertical posts 2-2 and the horizontal base portion 3. The frame I is provided with wheels or casters 4. Undesired movement of the structure may be prevented by a suitable form of brake, as indicated generally by brake handle 28, brake rod 29, lever 30 and shoe 3|. A vertically disposed casing 5 is secured to cross-bars 6-5 connecting posts 2-2 near the tops and bottoms thereof. Horizontal brackets l and 8 are slidably mounted on the posts 2-2. A chain 9 attached at one end to a cross-rod it between the brackets l and 8 passes over a pulley II in the top of casing 5 to a counterweight l2 within casing 5. A hood i3 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 8 and is restrained from tilting by an adjustable fastening or locking device having slotted metal strap l4 connected to the bracket l, a bolt l5 and nut 16. The bolt 15 passes through the hood I3 and the slot in the metal strap M. Tightening of the nut l6 holds the hood in position relative to the strap l4 and the bracket 7, thus preventing undesired tilting. An extension of one portion of the frame of the hood l3 forms a platform I! for the object to be viewed, such as a book l8, and another extension of the hood frame [3 forms a platform IQ for positioning shielded lamps 20-20 which provide proper illumination of the object. The sides of the hood opposite the book platform H are cut, as shown at the concave edge 21, to allow ample space for the patient to insert his hands to control the manipulation of the object, and fiaps 2| and 22 are pivotally connected to the hood I3 in such manner that during use they depend on either side of the patients head, thus shutting off interfering light from outside the hood. A mirror 23 is placed in the forward or object end of the hood in a position to reflect the image of the object to a second mirror 24 placed in the rear or head end of the hood, which in turn reflects the image to the eyes of the patient. To ensure easy reading and to avoid eye strain, a lens 25 is placed between the mirrors 22 and 23 to enlarge the image on the mirror 23. A reduction glass 26 may be placed between the mirror 23 and the eyes of the patient to reduce the image to the desired size. An enlarged image may also be obtained without using lenses by the use of magnifying mirrors, instead of the plain mirrors 23 and 24 described above.

In operation, the attendant places the device beside the patients bed with the hood over the patient and the reducing lens over the patients eyes. The flaps may then be lowered, and the angle of the hood adjusted to conform with the patients line of vision. The patient or attendant may, without effort, raise or lower the countor-balanced hood as desired. The lights are turned on, and the patient may read comfortably and without effort, and is at all times free to move and readily accessible should attention be required.

Having described my claim is:

A device for use by invalids for reading while lying in bed comprising an inverted bowl-like hood adapted to be supported from the floor to extend over the bed from the Waist to the head of the patient, a frame having a pair of uprights spaced a distance greater than one half the length of said hood and extending above the patient, said frame being supported upon the floor at three points spaced 9, distance at least equal to the spacing of said uprights, a bracket comprising spaced arms slidably engaging said uprights and extending therefrom substantially perpendicular to a plane through said uprights, means for pivotally mounting said hood upon said bracket at a point substantially opposite one of said arms to swing about an axis perpendicular to said plane, cooperating securing means substantially opposite the other of said arms carried by said hood and said bracket for securing said hood in a desired position about said axis, means carried by said hood for supporting reading matter substantially opposite the waist of the patient, means carried by said hood for bringing said reading matter within the vision of the patient and means for holding said bracket in a desired position upon said uprights.

LAURENCE M. RING.

invention, What I 

